Ottawa Police Board To Resume In-Person Meeting After More Than 3 Years Amid Public Engagement Concerns
The Ottawa Police Services Board is preparing to hold its first in-person meeting in more than three years, marking a major shift after a long period of virtual-only meetings. The civilian board, which oversees the Ottawa Police Service, is expected to meet on June 22 in the Champlain Room at Ottawa City Hall.
The return to an in-person format comes after repeated criticism from community advocates who argued that virtual meetings made it harder for the public to participate and hold the board accountable.
Ottawa Police Board Meeting To Be Held In Hybrid Format
City councillor Marty Carr, vice-chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board, said the June 22 meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting. That means board members and members of the public will have the choice to attend either in person or remotely.
According to Carr, the change is intended to improve public access while still keeping the convenience of remote participation. The meeting will be the first time the board has gathered in person since November 2022, shortly after Eric Stubbs became Ottawa’s police chief.
Before that, the board also held virtual meetings from April 2020 to March 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why The Board Is Returning To In-Person Meetings
Carr said there are several benefits to bringing back in-person police board meetings. She said face-to-face meetings can improve communication, increase public visibility and create stronger interaction between board members, police leadership and residents.
She described the move as a meaningful step toward rebuilding public presence and strengthening board accountability. In-person meetings, she suggested, may help residents feel more connected to decisions involving police oversight in Ottawa.
After the June meeting, the board is expected to review whether in-person or hybrid meetings should become the regular format going forward.
Staffing Issues Blamed For Long Virtual Format
One of the main reasons given for the long delay in returning to in-person meetings is staffing. Carr said the board had limited staff available to support hybrid meetings.
She explained that the board only had two staff members, while city council and city committee meetings can require up to four staff members to run properly. Because of that, Carr said the board did not have the resources needed to provide an effective hybrid option earlier.
However, that explanation has not satisfied some public advocates.
Critics Say Virtual Meetings Limited Public Engagement
Community advocate Robin Browne, founder of 613-819 Black Hub, has strongly criticized the board’s reliance on virtual meetings. Browne said other city committees have been able to hold in-person or hybrid meetings, raising questions about why the police board could not do the same.
Browne has attended every Ottawa Police Services Board meeting for the last four years and has been one of the board’s most vocal critics. He argued that virtual meetings created barriers for public participation and reduced the number of residents willing or able to delegate.
According to Browne, the virtual format made public engagement more difficult by forcing speakers to follow extra steps each month. He said this resulted in fewer delegations and less public pressure on the board.
Previous Disputes Over Public Delegations
The debate over public participation is not new. Browne previously protested at the last in-person board meeting in November 2022. He also took legal action after the board changed its bylaws in 2023 to require speakers to give advance notice before delegating at meetings.
A deputy judge later found that the board’s handling of delegation rules was unfair. The ruling said the board had been more flexible with some speakers whose comments aligned with the agenda, while being less flexible with critics. This was found to have breached critics’ freedom of expression.
That court decision added to concerns about whether the board was doing enough to protect open public debate and community oversight.
Public Accountability Remains A Key Issue
The Ottawa Police Services Board plays an important role in civilian oversight of the police force. Its meetings allow residents to raise concerns, ask questions and follow decisions affecting policing in the city.
For critics, the move back to an in-person format is not just about meeting logistics. It is about transparency, accountability and whether residents feel they can directly engage with the people responsible for police governance.
Supporters of in-person meetings argue that physical attendance can create a stronger sense of public pressure and responsibility. Virtual meetings may be convenient, but critics say they can also feel distant and less accessible, especially for people who want to speak directly to board members.
June Meeting Could Shape Future Board Format
The upcoming June 22 Ottawa Police Board meeting could influence how the board conducts business in the future. Carr said the board will decide after the meeting whether in-person sessions should become the standard practice.
For community advocates like Browne, the return to city hall is an important moment. He said he plans to attend the meeting and expects it will be significant to face board members directly after years of virtual meetings.
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